A brief overview of the German invasion of Norway, Operation Weserübung.
Originally called Operation Studie Nord, the invasion of Denmark and Norway was christened "Operation Weserübung" and planning started in early Febuary, 1940. Later that month, General von Falkenhorst was given command of the operation and on March 1, Hitler signed a directive on Weserübung. The objective being; "preventing British aggression in scandinavia, secure ironore from Sweden and the setting up of naval and airbases for the war on Britain."
On March 20, the plans were complete and General von Falkenhorst reported that everything was ready for Weserübung to go ahead. On April 3rd, German supply ships left german harbours headed for Norway. German warships would be at their predetermined positions in Norway by 04.15 hours on April 9. The taskforce was split into six groups.
Group one, NARVIK:
10 ships and 2000 men under the command of General Dietl. The alarm went on the Norwegian warships Eidsvold and Norge at about 03.20 hours. Both ships were sunk and Narvik taken with no further resistance.
Group two, TRONDHEIM:
The Admiral Hipper and 4 other ships carrying 2000 men approached Agdenes Costalfort at about 0300. The ships had already passed when the battaries opened fire. Trondheim was taken three hours later.
Group three, BERGEN:
The two light cruisers Köln and Königsberg with several smaller craft carried 2000 men past Bergen Costalfort at 0215. The battaries around Bergen scored several hits but did not sink any of the German vessels. They contiuned to fire until the German commander threatened to bomb Bergen if they did not cease fire.
Group four, KRISTIANDSAND:
The light cruiser Karlsruhe and several smaller vessels carried 1500 men. The costalbattery there opened fire as soon as they were within range, at about 0500. The ships went back to sea and tried again at 0900 only to fail yet again. Later that morning, the battery got orders not to fire on allied ships who they thought were coming to help. Only when the ships had passed they noticed that the flag was German, not British or French.
Group five, OSLO:
The Heavy cruisers Blücher and Lützow, the light cruiser Emden and the artillaryship Brummer, with several smaller vessels carried 3000 men and staff. At 2300 hours April 8, the guardboat POL III fired a warningshot and costalbatteries fired off a couple of shots with the help of spotlights. The mineship Olav Tryggvason fougth a battle with German ships while the Blücher was sunk after being hit by two shots from the cannons MOSES and ARON from Oscarsberg battery. The remaining German ships pulled out of the Oslofjord and landed the troops at Son later that morning.
Group six, EGERSUND:
The town was captured by German minesweepers, with no resistance.
Fallshirmjäger was dropped at Sola, Stavanger to capture the airfield there. The same thing happened at Fornebu (near Oslo). Both fields were captured in the afternoon and the first troops arrived in Oslo from Fornebu at about 1500 that day. The invasion was almost a complete success for the Germans but they did not capture the King or the Government, who had won precious time when Blücher was sunk. Thus, they were still free to choose and turned down all German demands of surrender. The fight was on.
John